Display case



Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED stares VALENTINE J. GRITHER, JR., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DISPLAY CASE.

Appncauon inea april 1, 1924. serial No: 703,496.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE J. Gaim-IER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Display Cases, of which the following is a` speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to merchandise display cases, and the general object of the invention is to provide a case which can be colnpactly packed for shipment and which, when it reaches its destination, can be used for display purposes.

A further object is to provid-e a structure oi' this character.wl1ich can be cleaned thoroughly without removing the entire contents of the case.

A still further object is to provide a. construction o this character which has al plurality of' glass doors so constructed that the doors may be opened right down to the bottom of the case or that only the upper halt of each door may be opened so as to permit a salesman to remove the contents of: the

case.

Another object is to provide a case ci this character which is simple and strong, may be cheaply made, and which will so display the goods contained within the case that the services of a salesman, except to remove the goods, may be to some extent dispensed with.

Other objects will appear in the course oit the following description.

My invention is illustrated inl the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case constructed in accordance. with my invention;`

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing o-ne of the end doors open;

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing the side doors partially open;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation ot the end of the case showing the manner in which the lower sections lot the doors are engaged with each other so that they will not open when the upper sections of the doors are opened Referring to thesedrawings, it will be seen that the case is rectangular in form and is formed with a bottom 10, a top 1l. and end walls and side walls. The top 1l is in the form of a rectangular trame and the intew rior of the case is preferably divided by partitions 12 between which the` pa-nesfof glass 14 are disposed held in place by screws 13 which pass downward into the partitions between the supporting' panes of glass l11.

Each end wall consists of a rectangular frame 15, which` `frame is divided into two sections, an upper and a lower section, each of these sections being` provided with glass panes 16 and the upper section being hinged to the lower section by the hinges 17 the lower section in turn being hinged to the bottom 10 by means of hinges 18. The upper section of each end wall is held closed by means of a spring bolt or like latch 19. The side walls each consist of a lower rectangular frame 2O which extends the entire length of the display case and fits inside ot' the end walls, this rectangular iframe 2O being divided by vertical stiles 21 andsupport ing the panes 22. This lower rectangular trame is hinged to the bottom 10 by means ot hinges 243.

Hinged to the upper rail of each of the lower sections 2O are two or more upper sec` tions, designated generally 23,. which are hinged to the upper wall of the lower section by means ot the hinges 24:. f Each of the sections 23 is held closed by means ot a spring latch or bolt 25, and each upper section is divided by vertical bars or stiles 26 and supports the transparent panes 27. Both sides are alike and both ends are alike. 1t will be seen that the upper sections of both ends are capable of being swung downward independently of the lower sections or that both the upper and lower sections may be swung downward, and as regards the side sections it is obvious that both of the'sections 23 may beswung downward independsalesman to show goods to customers.

ently of the section 2O or that the section 20 and the upper sections 23 may be swung downward together, as illustrated in Figurel.

Preferably, and in order to prevent the lower Sections of both the end and side walls from being accidentally swung outward when the upper sections are swung outward,

-1 provide the frame 20ct each lower section and the trames of the lower end sections with coacti-ng hooks and eyes, designated generally 28 and 29, as shown in Figure 4l.. Thus the lower sections at both the sides and ends will be'ordinarily `latched closed so that they will not open and Aonly the upper sections may be opened tosccure the goods from within the case. Preiteia# bly the interior of the case is divided by partitions. l l

.lt will be seen that a case ot' the characA ter illustrated can 4bethoroughly Cleaned without removing the entire contents Vot .the case. Thus, tor instance, one of the upper doors or sections may be opened either on one or both sides andthe contents otl the case between the partitionsl2 may be cleaned out, the articles put back, andthe remainder of the case cleaned without the necessity of taking all the articles out to clean the case. rThe glass panes in the top, sides and ends of the' case enable customers to-see the contents of the case and the prices ot' the various articles so that to an extent this case does away with the necessity ot' a rChe doors open from both sides oit theycase and from the ends, thereby enabling the salesman to get thearticle sold from the case on either side. i l I do not wish to be limited lto the use oit' partitions l2, as the entire interior or" the case might be substantially open, there only being a -few framing members to hold the bottom and top of the case inplace and in proper spaced relation. It will be obvious that a case of this kind can have partitions extending through it both transversely and longitudinally to any extent required and that the case may be in knockedfdown conditionand readily set up for display purposes.

I claim i' Ti. A mercl'iandise display case of the character described having a bottom, top, sides and ends, vertical partit-ion members connectingthe top and'bottom and engaged.

therewith to support the top 'and bottom in spaced relation to each other, each end being composed of a frame formed in two sections, the lower-section being hinged to the bottom' ot the case for outward and downward swinging movement, the upper section being hinged to the lower' sectionfor outward an d downward swinging movement,

the upper section and the 'top ot the case havthe top,

ing .latching engagement with each other, the sides being composed each of a longitudinally extending lower section having a length equal to that ot the case, and a plurality o't upper sections, the lower section being hinged to the bottom of the case iioi' downward and outward swinging movementy the upper sections being hinged to the lower section for downward and outward swinging movement, the upper sections andthe top having` latches whereby the upper sections may be held in closed position andthere being means for latching the lower sections ol the Vsides and'ends'in vertical position,

sides and ends all having transparentr panes whereby the contents of the rase may be observed.

:5. A merchandise display case oif the character described having a bottom, top, sides and ends, vertical partition .members con necting lthe top-and bottom and engaged therewith to support the top and bottom in spaced relation-to reach other, each endbeing composed oa frame formed gin two sections, the lower section being hinged to the bottom ot`v the case for outward and downward swinging movement,'the upper section being hinged to the lower section for outward and downward swinging movement, the upper vsectionl andl the ltop oit the ease having latching engagement with each other, the sides being` composedeach of a longitudinally extending lower section having a length equal to that of the.case, and aplurality of upper sections, thelower` section being hinged to the bottom of the caseV for outward vand downward swinging movement, the upper sections being liingedi tolthe lower section -for outward and downward swinging movement, the upper sections fand-the'top having latches whereby the upper sections may be held in closed position, the ylower sections o'f' the ends and sides havingcoacting hooks and eyes whereby all of the lower sections may be held in a vertical position, the sections of the ends and the sectionsot' .the sides and the top being provided with a plurality of glass panes whereby the contents ol` the case may be observed.

A -inerchandise display case of theV character described having 'abottom, i top, sides and ends, vertical partitionfmembers conneetingthe top and bottomandengaged therewith to support theI topV and bottom iny spaced relation to each other, eachend being composed of a' frame formed in twosections, the lower section being hinged to? the bottom of the case for outward and downward swinging movement, the uppersection being hinged yto the lower section for yout,- ward and downward swinging movement, and the upper section and the top ofthe case having latchedengagement Vwith -each other, the sides including each arflongitudinaflly extending lower sectionfand a Yplurality of upper sections, the lower l section being and ends in vertical position, the top, sides hinged to the bottoni of the case, the upper and ends all having transparent panes 10 Sections being hinged to the lower section whereby the contents of the case may be ohi'or downward and outward swinging lnoveserved.

5 nient, the upper section and the top having In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my latches whereby the upper sections nia-y he Signature. heid in closed position and there being mea-ns, for hitching the lower sections of the sides VALENTINE J. GRITHER, JR. 

